Arctic

Sometimes referred to as the ‘land of the midnight sun’, north of the Arctic circle, the sun stays above the horizon for 24 continuous hours in the mid summer of the Northern Hemisphere, and the same below the horizon for 24 hours at the winter solstice.  A very weird thing to experience, but many holidays to this region operate over the June – July summer period to maximise the hours of daylight.  The actual position of the Arctic Circle depends on the tilt of the Earth’s axis but that fluctuation of two degrees happens over a 40,000 year period so don’t worry, you won’t fall off the planet! Don’t forget that in the winter, there are lots of destinations around the Arctic where you can experience the Northern Lights.

Holidays in the Arctic circle are always an adventure and a must for lovers of photography and natural history. Travelling by small ship with an experienced expedition leader float through a myriad of float ice and get up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife such as polar bears, Arctic Foxes, Seals and Walrus, Whales and Porpoises. Spitsbergen (Svalbad) north of Norway is a fabulous destination and there are also options to visit Greenland, Iceland or even navigate the whole Arctic Circle! If you want to get to the North Pole, without a hectic challenge when the pack ice covers the region, join the Journey to the North Pole where a fabulous ice breaker ship takes you all the way in mid summer.

Wildlife trips around the north of Canada, Greenland and Alaska are for those with a love of Arctic tundra and ice floats, polar bears, walruses, seals and whales are frequently seen.  To the north of Lapland and Russia you can meet Reindeer herders, enjoy snow shoeing, cross country skiing, husky sledding and other activities.  Spitzbergen, a large island deep inside the Arctic Circle between Greenland and Scandanavia is a great destination for Polar Bears and other arctic wildlife.